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Bill

HR 9464

To prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from closing any research and development facility of the Forest Service.

119th Congress Introduced by Maggie Goodlander and 1 co-sponsor

The bill would bar the Secretary of Agriculture from closing any Forest Service research and development facilities.

Introduced in House
0
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Bill Summary · HR 9464

Overview

HR 9464 (119th Congress) proposes prohibiting the Secretary of Agriculture from closing any research and development facility of the Forest Service. The bill is currently in the referral stage in the House, with introductions and committee referral completed.

Purpose and intent

  • The primary aim is to prevent the Secretary of Agriculture from ordering the closure of Forest Service research and development (R&D) facilities.
  • By restricting closures, the bill seeks to preserve ongoing scientific work, long-term research programs, and associated personnel and infrastructure within Forest Service R&D operations.

Key provisions (as implied by title and summary)

  • Prohibition on closure: The Secretary of Agriculture would be barred from issuing any action that results in the permanent closure of Forest Service R&D facilities.
  • Scope of facilities: Applies to all research and development facilities operated by the Forest Service, including laboratories, experimental stations, and field research centers, regardless of location.
  • Compliance mechanism: Likely requires the Secretary to maintain current Forest Service R&D facilities or to approve closures only through a specified legislative or administrative process (exact procedural details would be enumerated in the bill’s text).
  • Protection of staff and programs: Implicitly aims to protect ongoing personnel, contracts, and research programs tied to these facilities, potentially mandating continuity of funding and operations.

Who/what would be affected

  • Forest Service R&D facilities: Any physical site engaged in research and development activities conducted by the Forest Service.
  • Forest Service personnel: Researchers, technicians, and support staff associated with affected facilities.
  • Ongoing research programs: Long-term studies and experiments hosted at these facilities.
  • Related contractors and partners: External collaborators and vendors tied to facility operations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and sponsor information:
    • Introduced in the House.
    • Co-sponsors: Chris Pappas and Maggie Goodlander.
  • Legislative path:
    • Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture for consideration.
  • Timeline notes:
    • No specified effective date or sunset provision appears in the summary; the bill’s impact would depend on eventual passage and presidential approval, along with any implementation timelines defined in the final text.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Protective effect on research capacity: If enacted, the bill would create a statutory constraint on closing Forest Service R&D facilities, potentially stabilizing long-term research agendas and conserving institutional knowledge.
  • Fiscal and operational implications: Could limit cost-cutting measures or realignment strategies that involve consolidating facilities, thereby affecting budgets, capital planning, and regional workforce deployment.
  • Political and administrative considerations: The bill could prompt debates about efficiency, geographic distribution of facilities, and the balance between modernization and conservation-focused research continuity.

Note: This summary is based on the bill’s title, action history, and sponsor information. For a complete understanding, review the full text of HR 9464, including any defined exceptions, enforcement mechanisms, funding implications, and amendments proposed in committee.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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